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A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ALCOHOL ABUSE: A MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE
A message from Community Anti- Drug Coalitions of America and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
KNOW MORE BEFORE YOU POUR
Consequences:
• Nearly 88,000 people (approximately 62,000 men and 26,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the fourth leading preventable cause of death in the United States.
• In 2014, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted for 9,967 deaths (31 percent of overall driving fatalities).
• In 2010, alcohol misuse cost the United States $249 billion.
• Alcohol contributes to over 200 diseases and injury-related health conditions, most notably alcohol dependence, liver cirrhosis, cancers, and injuries
Prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and Untreated AUD:
• 16.3 million U.S. adults ages 18 and older had an alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2014. This includes 10.6 million men and 5.7 million women.
• About 1.5 million adults received treatment for an AUD at a specialized facility in 2014. This included 1.1 million men (9.8 percent of men in need) and 431,000 women (7.4 percent of women who needed treatment).
ALCOHOL’S EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN
Short-term effects:
• In the short-term, intoxication compromises an individual’s decision making processes and the ability to recognize potential danger.
• This diminished capacity can lead to many negative and sometimes tragic consequences.
• In addition, alcohol affects the parts of the brain that help us walk, keep our balance, drive cars, talk, make choices and make new memories. As a result, consuming too much alcohol can cause people to fall and get hurt, drive cars dangerously, make bad choices and have memory blackouts for things they did while drinking.
• If people drink at very high levels, alcohol can turn off the parts of the brain that keep them breathing and their hearts beating, and they can die.
Long-term effects:
• Long-term heavy drinking can shrink the frontal lobes of the brain, which impairs thinking, planning and decision making.
• Long-term heavy drinking can cause a person to become addicted to alcohol and not be able to feel okay or function without it.

EFFECTS ON CHILDREN/FAMILIES
Learn More: Alcohol Facts and Statistics Fact Sheet
• More than 10 percent of U.S. children live with a parent with alcohol problems.
• Even though alcohol consumption by individuals under the age of 21 is illegal, about 8.7 million people ages 12-20 reported drinking alcohol in the past month. That is 22.8 percent of this age group – 23 percent of males and 22.5 percent of females.
FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTURM DISORDER (FASD)
Learn More: Fetal Alcohol Exposure Fact Sheet
• Fetal alcohol exposure occurs when a woman drinks while pregnant. Alcohol can disrupt fetal development at any stage during a pregnancy – even at the earliest stages before a woman may know she is pregnant.
• There is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
• Prenatal alcohol exposure is a leading preventable cause of birth defects and neurodevelopmental abnormalities in the United States.
• Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause a range of developmental, cognitive, and behavioral problems, which can appear at any time during childhood and last a lifetime.
• Scientists define a broad range of effects and symptoms caused by prenatal alcohol exposure under the umbrella term Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
AGING
Source: MedLine Plus Magazine article on Aging
• The risks of excessive drinking increase as we age, in part because older drinkers are more sensitive to alcohol’s effects on cognitive function including balance, coordination, attention, decision making and driving skills.
• Because the amount of water in the body declines with age, older people reach higher blood alcohol concentrations than younger people who drink the same amount.
• Drinking alcohol while taking medication for certain conditions can make those conditions worse. These conditions include: high blood pressure, diabetes, gout, and heart failure, as well as the risks of falls and fractures.
• In general, to be at low-risk for alcohol use disorder, healthy men and women over age 65 can have three drinks in a single day, but should not exceed a total of seven drinks in a week. Drinking more than these amounts puts people at risk of serious alcohol problems.
COUNTERING MISCONCEPTIONS
Myth: “Holding your liquor”:
Learn More: Rethinking Drinking
• For some people, it takes quite a few drinks to get a buzz or feel relaxed. Often they are unaware that being able to “hold your liquor” isn’t protection from alcohol problems, but instead a reason for caution. These people have an increased risk for developing alcohol use disorder (AUD). The higher alcohol levels that can result from “holding your liquor” can also cause liver, heart, and brain damage that may go unnoticed until it’s too late.
Myth: Alcohol is a stimulant:
Learn More: The Truth About Holiday Spirits: How to Celebrate Safely This Season
• Initially, alcohol acts as a stimulant, and people who drink may feel upbeat and excited. But they should not be fooled. Alcohol soon decreases inhibitions and judgment and can lead to reckless decisions.
• As we consume more alcohol, reaction time suffers and behavior becomes poorly controlled and sometimes even aggressive – leading to fights and other types of violence. Continued drinking causes the slurred speech and loss of balance we typically associate with being drunk.
Myth: Shortening recovery time with caffeine:
Learn More: The Truth About Holiday Spirits: How to Celebrate Safely This Season
• Many people believe that they will begin to sober up – and drive safely – once they stop drinking and have a cup of coffee. Caffeine may help with drowsiness, but not with the effects of alcohol on decision-making or coordination. The body needs time to metabolize (break down) alcohol and then to return to normal. There are no quick cures – only time will help.
Myth: There are no medications available to treat Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD):
Learn More: Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help
• Some people are surprised to learn that there are medications on the market approved to treat AUD. The newer types of these medications work by offsetting changes in the brain caused by AUD. All approved medications are non-addictive and can be used alone or in combination with other forms of treatment.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three medications for treating alcohol dependence, and others are being tested to determine if they are effective.
o Naltrexone can help people reduce heavy drinking by blocking the euphoric effects and feelings of intoxication produced by alcohol.
o Acamprosate makes it easier to maintain abstinence by reducing craving.
o Disulfiram blocks the breakdown (metabolism) of alcohol by the body, causing unpleasant symptoms such as nausea and flushing of the skin. Those unpleasant effects help some people avoid drinking while taking disulfiram.
Join CAPE of DC and the Southern Dutchess Community Coalition in their support for the Know More Before You Pour Campaign; a message from CADCA/NIAAA/NIH

Elaine Trumpetto, M.A.

For Immediate Release: 8/23/2016

GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO

State of New York | Executive Chamber
Andrew M. Cuomo | Governor

GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES COORDINATED INTERAGENCY EFFORT TO COMBAT UNDERAGE DRINKING ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES ACROSS NEW YORK

State Agencies to Work Together to Build Upon the Governor’s Successful Safety Initiatives on College Campuses as the Fall Semester Begins

“Underage drinking can lead to life-altering consequences for college students, and as the fall semester gets underway, we are working to educate college students about this reckless behavior,” Governor Cuomo said. “These coordinated efforts will build on our progress to help avoid needless tragedies and create a safer learning environment on campuses statewide.”

The following interagency efforts are aimed at protecting college students:

OASAS Campaign Helps Parents Talk to College Students About the Dangers of Underage Drinking and Drug Use
NYS OASAS actively works to prevent underage drinking and to stop the disease of addiction before it starts, and is launching the next phase of its Talk2Prevent campaign, which provides resources for parents on how to talk to their college-age students on the dangers of underage drinking and drug use. The agency also makes resources available that describe the risks associated with underage drinking and illicit drug use for colleges and community-based organizations, including posters, fact sheets and postcards. A letter regarding the availability of these Talk2Prevent materials will be shared with colleges and community partners across the state this month. A Kitchen Table Tool Kit, developed to assist parents, teachers, counselors and the community with guidance on how to initiate conversations about heroin and prescription opioid abuse, is also available on the Combat Heroin website.

NYS OASAS anticipates issuing a Request for Proposals in the near future to help colleges across New York enhance their substance use prevention efforts. As part of this proposal, public colleges will be eligible for grants for efforts aimed at preventing underage drinking and prescription drug misuse and building campus coalitions.

NYS OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said, “I want to thank Governor Cuomo and our state partner agencies for collaborating with us on efforts to prevent young New Yorkers from using alcohol or other drugs. Every parent and guardian looks forward to seeing their child receive their college diplomas on graduation day. These state-led initiatives will help ensure that students stay away from substance use so that they can successfully complete their education and go on to live full, healthy lives beyond their college years.”

SLA Trainings for Bar, Restaurant and Tavern Owners
The SLA, in collaboration with the Empire State Restaurant & Tavern Association (ESRTA), will host a series of free trainings across the state for bar, restaurant, and tavern owners and their staff. The day-long programs will focus on the legal responsibilities of selling alcohol and provide training in practical skills to help licensees and their employees fulfill their legal responsibilities.

The SLA has already conducted these trainings in Kingston, Troy, Cortland and Oneonta. This fall, SLA and ESRTA plan to offer trainings in Rochester, Syracuse, Long Island, Newburgh, Utica, Binghamton, Buffalo and Tarrytown.

SLA Chairman Vincent Bradleysaid, “I commend Governor Cuomo for coordinating New York State enforcement and prevention resources to take proactive, cooperative measures to prevent alcohol abuse among our youth. These free trainings are part the state’s efforts to help conscientious licensees comply with the law so that they may continue to create jobs, boost the local economy, and run their businesses safely and successfully.”

Scott Wexler, Executive Director of ESRTAsaid,“Licensees appreciate the State Liquor Authority’s efforts to help them understand the complex rules under which they must operate their business. This program provides valuable guidance and assistance and will go a long way toward gaining increased compliance with the law. That’s good for the business and owners and for the public at large.”

The SLA has dramatically intensified enforcement actions to crack down on sales to minors in addition to providing education to licensees on their responsibilities. In May, Governor Cuomo launched the “No Excuses” campaign aimed at curbing underage drinking, a statewide education campaign that included the distribution of more than 15,000 display materials to restaurants and liquor stores across the state. In 2015, the SLA prosecuted 1,552 licensees for underage sales, a 50 percent increase from 1,036 prosecutions in 2010. The SLA also increased the number of trainings to reduce underage sales and help licensees to avoid violations before they occur by certifying and promoting Alcohol Training Awareness Program (ATAP). The number of ATAP trainings completed by licensees and their staff has increased by more than 150 percent, from 5,803 in 2011, to 14,549 in 2015.

DMV’s “Operation Prevent” Launches in College Towns
DMV’s “Operation Prevent” program is aimed at deterring underage drinking by preventing the use of fake IDs to obtain alcohol. DMV investigators work with local authorities at known underage drinking hotspots to check identification documents. Preventing underage youths from gaining access to alcohol keeps them safe and keeps our roads safe for everyone. Governor Cuomo announced that in 2015, DMV investigators made 760 arrests and confiscated more than 750 fraudulent ID documents under the program.

During the summer months, the program mainly focuses on popular settings like concert venues across New York. As summer concert season winds down, DMV investigators will be working closely with SLA and law enforcement entities across New York, focusing much of their efforts on establishments near colleges. During one such compliance inspection at The Smokin’ Bull in Albany in November 2015, approximately 115 of the 125 patrons at the establishment were found to be under the age of 21, leading to more than 70 arrests.

Last year, Governor Cuomo also issued a warning to returning college students on the dangers of buying fake IDs over the internet. In recent years, DMV investigators have found dozens of examples of underage license holders becoming victims of identity theft after purchasing fraudulent identification online from overseas companies.

DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan said, “I thank Governor Cuomo for his support of Operation Prevent so that DMV can do its part to protect New York’s college students from the dangers of underage drinking. DMV and its partners at every level of government will be out in force in the coming months in many college towns across New York, deterring underage drinking and protecting New York’s roadways.”

NYSP Campus Sexual Assault Victims Unit Works to Protect College Students from Sexual Violence
Members of the State Police Campus Sexual Assault Victims Unit are presenting at college orientation sessions and hosting trainings for stakeholders, speaking on various topics, including the link between alcohol abuse and sexual violence on campus. The mission of the unit, which was created by Governor Cuomo’s landmark “Enough is Enough” legislation, is to reduce the incidence of sexual violence on campus through outreach to students, staff and stakeholders. The unit will also coordinate the investigation of campus sex crimes that are reported to the State Police, and provide investigative support as requested by campus and local law enforcement agencies.

New York State Police Superintendent George P. BeachII said, “The investigators assigned to the Campus Sexual Assault Victims Unit are not just working to solve cases, but also to proactively educate students and stakeholders about the factors that play a part in these crimes, including alcohol abuse. We hope our efforts will pay off with increased awareness among students and a reduction in the number of sexual assaults occurring on campus.”

SUNY University Police Commissioner Paul M. Bergersaid, “The start of the school year is a critical time to reach our students before underage drinking becomes an issue that impacts the safety of our students and our communities. The Governor’s coordination of state resources is certain to boost SUNY’s own efforts to meet with and educate incoming freshman and communicate with returning students.”
Research shows that each year, nationwide:

More than 1,800 college students die from alcohol-related injuries.· 696,000 college students are assaulted by another student that has been drinking.· 97,000 college students experience alcohol-related sexual assault.

Drinking alcohol before age 21 can interfere with brain development, causing potential learning difficulties well into the early 20s.· Early alcohol use is associated with poor grades, absenteeism, and higher school dropout rates.

Recall Issued for Atomizer Device Used in Naloxone Delivery System
Potential Defect with Atomizer Only; Medication Remains Safe and Effective

Poughkeepsie…. Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health is advising first responders and the public that Teleflex Medical, manufacturer of the MAD300 Intranasal Mucosal Atomization Device used as part of the naloxone (NARCAN) delivery system, has issued a recall notification. This product is currently used by opioid overdose prevention programs across New York State — including Dutchess County.

Nearly 1,600 individuals have been trained to use Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal medication, through the Dutchess County Medical Examiner’s Office and its “train-the-trainer” program. As part of the training, participants receive a naloxone kit. Approximately one-third of the kits distributed are estimated to be affected by the recall.

Individuals who have a naloxone kit are advised to take the following steps:
•Check lot number on the device carton and register to receive replacement kit when available, both of which be done online.

In the event of an overdose, continue to use the naloxone kit, even if it is impacted by recall, and:
•Call 9-1-1 immediately to have help on the way if the atomizer is not working at maximum capacity.
•Use the naloxone kits as trained, administering a second dose if individual is not revived.

“It is most important to stress that the naloxone medication inside the kit is safe and can work to reverse an overdose,” stressed Kia Newman, MD, Deputy Medical Examiner. “If the atomizer in your kit has a defect, it may stream the medication as opposed to spraying it as an atomized mist. The naloxone medication can and should still be used until the manufacturer can replace the affected atomizers. The medicine can still save lives. Giving the naloxone with a possibly defective atomizer is still better than giving nothing at all.”

“The importance of calling 9-1-1 cannot be overstated. While we always stress calling 9-1-1 as part of our Narcan training, it is particularly critical in light of this recall. Call 9-1-1 and use the naloxone kit as trained to ensure the victim has the best chance for survival,” added Dr. Newman.

At this time, the manufacturer is reporting a backlog of orders to replace the recalled atomizers. Residents who received their naloxone training and kits from Dutchess County can register to be notified when replacement atomizer devices become available by calling Dutchess County HELPLINE at (845) 485-9700 or visiting www.dutchessny.gov/MAD300.

For further information about Opioid Overdose Prevention in New York State, visit http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/general/opioid_overdose_prevention/. Any additional inquiries regarding the manufacturer recall can be sent to overdose@health.ny.gov..

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Alive @ 25 Information: Click Here for the 2016 Schedule. Contact at 845-765-8301 x110 for questions or to sign up!Victim Impact Panel Information: The Victim Impact Panel runs the FIRST THURSDAY of each month, excluding July. Click here for the 2016 Schedule.Contact us at 845-765-8301 x100 for more information or for volunteer opportunities!

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